Vegetable and Ornamental Crops

PIANTE MATI 1909

For four generations, MATI 1909 has been synonymous with excellence in the nursery production of all size of ornamental plants, the design and construction of large and small gardens, and the promotion of a green culture and Tuscan farm food. In Italy and around the world, there are plants that come from our nurseries in gardens, in parks and cities, as well as at the most important organizations. Following a Mati family tradition, we have produced plants with great care using advanced technologies since 1909.

DAGRI - Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari Ambientali e Forestali - Università di Firenze

The Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies (DAGRI), born on January 1st 2019 from the merger of the two existing structures, the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Resources Management (GESAAF) and the Department of Production Sciences Agribusiness and Environment (DISPAA), represents the only Department of agriculture in the University of Florence.

G.E.A. Green Economy and Agriculture

Thanks to the commitment of the Caript Foundation and the thirty-year experience of the Ce.Spe.Vi. (Experimental Center for Nursery), GEA was born. GEA, a unique research center, is based in Pistoia, a city that has always been known for its flower and nursery production exported all over the world and for its "green" culture.

Il nome GEA, che nella mitologia rappresenta la madre Terra all’origine del mondo, è anche l’acronimo di Green Economy (and) Agriculture; proprio per questo GEA vuole essere un ponte tra tradizione e sperimentazione, tra innovazione e sviluppo sostenibile.

The name GEA, which in mythology represents mother Earth at the origin of the world, is also an acronym for Green Economy (and) Agriculture; for this reason GEA wants to be a bridge between tradition and experimentation, between innovation and sustainable development.

Its objectives are the development of scientific research and entrepreneurship, with particular reference to the sectors of sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, circular economy, as well as the well-being of citizens.

The innovation of the agricultural system, the enhancement of the territory, the promotion of local products, the protection of the landscape and environmental resources, the protection of health and the improvement of the quality of life through medical-pharmaceutical research, environmental education in schools are just some of the activities that GEA intends to pursue.

Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali

Consorzio LaMMA

On 20 December 2007, the Region of Tuscany, the Italian Research Council and the Foundation for Climate and Sustainability established the LaMMA Consortium - Environmental Modelling and Monitoring Laboratory for Sustainable Development, which is incorporated, and autonomous in terms of administration, organisation and accounts (Regional Law n°. 35 dated 23/02/2005).

The Consortium was born out of the project "Laboratorio di Meteorologia Modellistica Ambientale" (LaMMA), which was in turn formed in 1997 by the Region of Tuscany (General Direction for Economic Development, Department of Production Activities) in cooperation with the Italian Research Council (Institute of Biometeorology), with the aim of creating a point of contact between officialdom, the bodies of scientific and technological excellence, industry and the various public services.

The LaMMA Consortium performs two types of closely interrelated activities: technical services, and comprehensive research and innovation activities, thus constituting a centre of excellence.

The main sectors in which the LaMMA Consortium specialises are meteorology, climatology, geographic information systems (GIS) and geology. The Consortium has also acquired considerable experience in the field of atmospheric pollutant dispersion modelling, anemological studies for the purposes of exploiting wind energy, marine and oceanographic modelling, monitoring of pollutants and the state of health of the sea, and monitoring of vegetation.

The research projects and technical services developed by the consortium often involve the use of territorial information systems for the management of resources and environmental risks. We use advanced modelling, and process data from a wide range of sources, but principally from satellite.

 Società Toscana di Orticoltura

The Tuscan Horticultural Society was born in 1854 on the initiative of the Accademia dei Georgofili, with the aim of encouraging and promoting horticulture in Tuscany. After almost two centuries, its cultivation activity continues, not only with the organization of flower-nursery market exhibitions and training courses on horticulture, gardening, garden architecture and agriculture, but also thanks to a library equipped with numerous volumes ancients and a historical archive: concrete evidence of its importance at national and international level.

Accademia dei Geogofili

Georgofili is a compound word made up of two terms, georgo and filo and means “for the love of agriculture” or “friends of agriculture”.

The academy’s emblem contains the symbols of agriculture dedicated to the goddess Ceres (an ear of wheat, an olive branch and a bunch of grapes) as well as those associated with economic activity and commerce dedicated to the god Mercury (a caduceus: a winged wand with twined snakes).

Even the motto Prosperitati Publicae Augendae (to increase public welfare) highlights how the Georgofili Academy’s activities have always been focused on the public interest.

The Accademia dei Georgofili was founded in Florence in 1753 on the initiative of Ubaldo Montelatici, Canon of the Lateran, in order to "make continuous and well-regulated experiences, and observations, to bring perfection to the highly beneficial Art of Tuscan cultivation".

The Georgofili Academy is the oldest institution of its kind in the world dealing with agriculture, the environment, food, and promoting the advancement of knowledge, the development of technical economic activities and social growth. By adapting the organization, methodology and working tools to the times, it has always maintained its role and the objectives set out in the articles of association.

The Georgofili have represented and represent a tool to compare and circulate ideas, connecting with the world and helping to maintain the prestige of our culture, always in full respect of their motto Prosperitati Publicae Augendae.

Accademia Italiana di Scienze Forestali

The Academy is an institution at national level that has the task of promoting and enhancing forestry sciences and their applications to forestry and related environmental protection problems.

It was founded on June 21, 1951, thanks to some illustrious Masters of forestry sciences including Generoso Patrone, Aldo Pavari, Cesare Sibilia, Romualdo Trifone.

Institutional tasks are indicated in art. 1 of the Statute: To give impetus and vitality to the progress of the forestry sciences and their applications to forestry and related problems of environmental protection in order to improve the well-being of the national community.

To achieve these ends, the Academy carries out research, organizes seminars, publishes monographs, conference proceedings and periodicals, conserves and makes available to the public its book heritage formed over the years with donations and purchases..

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 Associazione Osservatorio dei Mestieri d'Arte

OmA was founded in 2001 as a series of specific projects developed by Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze with the aim to promote the field of the artistic crafts and to create a European network of institutions to promote the understanding of different cultural identities, disclose and explore the themes of the quality of the productions, and training. In 2010 OmA becomes nonprofit association between banking foundations with headquarters and specialized personnel at the Ente Cassa di Risparmio in Florence. The magazine "OmA" and the web portal, created in 2006, are tools provided by the association to promote the artistic crafts in the various territories.

The OmA proposes to monitor the history, traditions, techniques, projects and innovations, analyzing the prospects for the future, the relationship with the world market, research, education and training for students, publish informative books on the subjects and techniques of artistic crafts, organizing conferences, meetings to examine the opportunities and issues related to the artistic crafts.

Fondazione Osservatorio Ximeniano

Founded by the Jesuit from Trapani Leonardo Ximenes in 1756, it is still active today in the same premises where it was born, on the top floor of the Convent of the Scolopi Fathers known as San Giovannino in Florence., Between the Medici Chapels and the Brunelleschi's Dome, it preserves precious instruments and a rich historical-scientific library, in a fascinating itinerary where the history of seismology, cartography, astronomy, meteorology and radio technology are intertwined with the history of the city of Florence and Tuscany.

At the time of its birth, the observatory was mainly aimed at the study of astronomy and hydraulics, the predominant interests of Ximenes. In 1773 due to historical events the Jesuit Fathers had to leave San Giovannino and the Scolopi Fathers took over the convent, continuing however to host Leonardo Ximenes, mathematician and geographer of the Grand Duke, in the premises of the Observatory where he had founded a small university with the chairs of Astronomy and Hydraulics. In the thirty years of his stay in Florence, Ximenes was in charge of every hydraulic or road company planned in Tuscany. In 1786, on his death, Ximenes left all his instruments and his rich library to the Piarists.

In 2004 the Ximenian Observatory Foundation of Florence was established onlus, with the aim of enhancing and managing the rich historical and scientific heritage preserved and continuing the experimentation and research activities. The first President of the Foundation was the Provincial Father of the Piarists, who was followed by prof. Mario Calamia. The current President is prof. Andrea Cantile, the Vice President is Father Franco Graiff and the Director of the Museum is Prof. Emilio Borchi.